Cooler attachment

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a table which a user can attach to a cooler. The table is generally comprised of a table top, a first pivoting means, a second pivoting means and a leg. The first pivoting means attaches the first end of the table top to a first beam. The first beam attaches the present table to the cooler. The second pivoting means attaches a second beam to the second end of the table top. The second beam is attached to the leg. The leg is vertically adjustable. The leg pivots against the table top and the table top pivots against the cooler.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of devices for tables. Morespecifically, the invention comprises an adjustable table attachable toa cooler.

2. Description of the Related Art

Coolers are used for storage of beverages and food often when travelingor picnicking to keep beverages and food cool. When a user arrives at adesired destination the cooler is typically set up and the food andbeverages are removed to eat or drink. However, typically the desireddestination is a beach, yard, park or field. Thus, the cooler is oftenplaced on uneven ground and table space is limited or unavailable.

Oftentimes, after beverages or food are removed from a cooler they areplaced on top of the cooler, impeding further use of the cooler. Due tothe fact that the cooler is often on uneven ground the food andbeverages placed on top of the cooler are often uneven as well.

Additionally, coolers are used for fishing, to store fish that arecaught. Oftentimes, a fisherman needs a flat area to clean and filet thefish prior to storing.

Therefore what is needed is a table which attaches to a cooler which canadjust such that the table top can remain even while on uneven ground.The present invention achieves this objective, as well as others thatare explained in the following description.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a table which a user can attach to acooler. The table is generally comprised of a table top, a firstpivoting means, a second pivoting means and a leg. The first pivotingmeans attaches the first end of the table top to a first beam. The firstbeam attaches the present table to the cooler. The second pivoting meansattaches a second beam to the second end of the table top. The secondbeam is attached to the leg. The leg is vertically adjustable. The legpivots against the table top and the table top pivots against thecooler.

In the preferred embodiment, the leg is comprised of a support and asegment. The segment extends into and out of the support and adjustssuch that the table top remains level.

By allowing the leg to pivot against the table top and the table top topivot against the cooler, the user can easily and conveniently store thepresent invention. Additionally, the vertical adjustability of the legallows the user to set the cooler on uneven ground while keeping thetable top level for placement of food and beverages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing the present invention attached toa cooler.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, showing the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, showing the present invention, with theleg pivoted against the table top.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, showing the present invention retractedand attached to a cooler.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, showing beam of the present invention inproximity with a cooler.

FIG. 6 is a section view, showing the present invention with the legretracted into the support.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, showing the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, showing the present invention

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, showing the present invention

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of thetable top.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 10 table 12 table top 14 firstpivoting means 16 leg 18 support base 20 bolt holes 22 cooler 24 secondpivoting means 26 second beam 28 first beam 30 pin 32 support 34 footer36 cooler lid 38 bolts 40 second table top 42 support 44 segment 46optional knife holder 48 pivot point 50 first wing 52 second wing 54uneven ground 56 pin hole 58 flange 60 table 62 ground 64 leg

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the present invention in the preferred embodimentattached to a prior art cooler 22. As shown in FIG. 2 the present table10 is generally comprised of a table top 12, first pivoting means 14,second pivoting means 24, and leg 64. In the preferred embodiment leg 64is generally comprised of support 32 and segment 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, first beam 28 attaches to cooler 22 at bolt holes20. In the preferred embodiment first pivoting means 14 is a set ofhinges which pivotally attaches first beam 28 to table top 12. However,one skilled in the art will appreciate that any mechanism that achievesa pivoting function can be used. Second pivoting means 24, shown in FIG.2, pivotally attaches table top 12 to second beam 26. Second beam 26 ispreferably an L beam, to which support 32 is attached. Segment 16 isattached to and retracts inside of support 32, as shown by the arrownext to segment 16. As shown in FIG. 1 when footer 34 of segment 16contacts ground 62, segment 16 frictionally engages with ground 62causing second pivoting means 24 and first pivoting means 14 to fix inplace, such that table 10 is steady. In the preferred embodiment, twohinges are used as second pivoting means 24, shown in FIG. 2. Oncesegment 16 retracts inside of support 32, second pivoting means 24allows support 32 to pivot towards table top 12, as illustrated by thearrow near support 32. In FIG. 3 support 32 is shown folded againsttable top 12.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the present table 10, folded againstcooler 22. Once support 32 is folded against table top 12, firstpivoting means 14 allows table top 12 to fold against cooler 22. Theability of the present table 10 to fold against cooler 22, whileremaining attached to cooler 22 allows for easy transportation and theability to fit into smaller places.

The illustration in FIG. 5 shows how first beam 28 attaches to cooler22. First beam 28 is preferably a hollow box beam, however, one skilledin the art will recognize that many different beams could be used. Firstbeam 28 contains a plurality of bolt holes 20. Bolt holes 20 acceptbolts 38, which pass through each side of first beam 28 and into cooler22 securing first beam 28 to cooler 22. First pivoting means 14 attachesto first beam 28. The simple attachment of first beam 28 to cooler 22 issuch that the present table (not shown) can be attached to any coolereven after that cooler is manufactured or in use. Thus, a user would notbe required to purchase an entire new cooler but instead could utilizetheir current cooler and only purchase the present table (not shown).

FIG. 6 is a section view which shows segment 16 retracted inside ofsupport 32. As shown, segment 16 fully retracts inside of support 32.Support base 18 is attached to the bottom of support 32 and contains asmall pin hole 56. Pin 30 fits through pin hole 56 and holds segment 16in place at the desired height. One function of footer 34 is to prevententire segment 16 from collapsing into support 32 by contacting supportbase 18 when segment 16 is fully retracted. Flange 58 prevents segment16 from fully detaching from support 32 as the diameter of flange 58 islarger than the diameter of the opening at support base 18.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the present table. Segment 16 isshown extending from support 32. In the preferred embodiment segment 16is adjusted by removing pin 30 adjusting segment 16 to the desiredheight and reinserting pin 30. While the use of pin 30 is shown, oneskilled in the art will recognize that any manner of adjusting segment16 could be used. For example segment 16 could be cylindrical andgrooved such that segment 16 screwed into and out of support 32.However, it is important that leg 64 has the ability to adjust todifferent heights.

The illustrations in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 illustrate one particularadvantage of the present table 10. When cooler 22 is placed on unevenground 54 segment 16 can be adjusted such that table top 12 still lieslevel. FIG. 8 illustrates a situation in which uneven ground 54 slopesupward, wherein segment 16 could be adjusted such that segment 16 doesnot extend fully from support 32 such that table top 12 is level. FIG. 9shows uneven ground 54 sloping downward, wherein segment 16 is extendedfurther out of support 32 such that table top 12 is level.

FIG. 10 shows table top 12 with optional knife holder 46 located ontable top 12. Table top 12 can vary in shape, size and can include anynumber of holders or recesses.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 11.The alternate embodiment has two tables 10, 60 extending from eitherside of cooler 22. Both tables 10, 60 are capable of folding fullyagainst cooler 22.

The preceding description contains significant detail regarding thenovel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed,however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providingillustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. As anexample, any number of pivoting means could be utilized to achieve thedouble pivoting mechanism which allows table top 12 to fold againstcooler 22. Additionally, segment 16 could retract into support 32 by anynumber of different means. Thus, the scope of the invention should befixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.

1. A table which a user can attach to a cooler, said table comprising:a. a first beam attached to said cooler; b. a first pivoting meanshaving a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is attachedto said first beam; c. a table top having a first end and a second end,wherein said first end of said table is attached to said second end ofsaid first pivoting means; d. a second pivoting means having a first endand a second end, wherein said first end of said second pivoting meansis attached to said second end of said table top; e. a second beamattached to said second end of said second pivoting means; and f. a legattached to said second beam.
 2. The table as recited in claim 1,wherein said first pivoting means is at least two hinges.
 3. The tableas recited in claim 2, wherein said second pivoting means is at leasttwo hinges.
 4. The table as recited in claim 1, wherein said first beamis attached to said cooler by a plurality of bolts.
 5. The table asrecited in claim 1, wherein said leg further comprises: a. a support; b.a segment having a top and a bottom; c. wherein said segment retractsinto said support.
 6. The table as recited in claim 5, wherein saidsegment further comprises a footer attached to said top of said segmentand a flange attached to said bottom of said segment.
 7. The table asrecited in claim 6, wherein said flange is configured to prevent saidsegment from detaching from said support.
 8. The table as recited inclaim 5 wherein segment is vertically adjustable within said support. 9.The table as recited in claim 1, wherein said first beam is a box beam.10. The table as recited in claim 1, wherein said second beam is an Lbeam.
 11. A table which a user can attach to a cooler, said tablecomprising: a. a table top having a first end and a second end; b.wherein said first end of said table top is pivotally attached to saidcooler; c. a leg; d. wherein said leg is pivotally attached to saidsecond end of said table top, such that said leg pivots against saidtable top and said table top pivots against said cooler; and e. whereinsaid leg is vertically adjustable.
 12. The table as recited in claim 11,wherein said first end of said table top is attached to said cooler by afirst beam and at least two hinges.
 13. The table as recited in claim12, wherein said second end of said table top is attached to said leg bya second beam and at least two hinges.
 14. The table as recited in claim11, wherein said leg further comprises: a. a support; b. a segmenthaving a top and a bottom; c. wherein said segment retracts into saidsupport.
 15. The table as recited in claim 14, wherein said segmentfurther comprises a footer attached to said top of said segment and aflange attached to said bottom of said segment.
 16. The table as recitedin claim 15, wherein said flange is configured to prevent said segmentfrom detaching from said support.
 17. The table as recited in claim 13,wherein said first beam is a box beam.
 18. The table as recited in claim13, wherein said second beam is an L beam.